Ansicrach Seicig

   “So it’d seem.” she mused, surveying the kitchen full of spectral cats. Wynter couldn’t say she cared, though. She was more than happy to have all of the ghostly fluffs wandering about. “It’s fine, Rhys. Don’t need to send them off.” 

   As long as everything was alright…

   She honestly wouldn’t get a better prompt than that. Wynter turned her gaze to the sea of cats, whilst trying to think of how best to handle the conversation to follow. She was certain that he would have questions, it was only natural, and she was positive that he was going to worry. The trick would be finding a way to deliver the news in a way that would minimize that worry, though she had a feeling that she wasn’t going to be successful, no matter how she worded it.

   “Rhys…I – It’s really not alright.” Wynter finally murmured, pale eyes still lowered. She didn’t think she could look at him just yet. Maybe when she said all that she wanted to say…

   “I think something’s going on with my wards. Maybe my magic, I don’t know. Haven’t been able to complete a spell, simple or otherwise, without overdoing it.” the young woman explained. “Wasn’t the first time I blacked out, either…”

The fact that Wynter didn’t seem to mind his odd assortment of ghostly cats made Rhys smile. Truth be told, he liked having them here, too.  This was one of the many reasons they were friends.  Of course, being able to accept each other’s eccentricities certainly helped, too.  

He paused in what he was doing, watching Wynter closely when she spoke.  The psychic knew better than to interrupt.  He let his friend speak, listening carefully.  He was a little surprised she’d said anything.  Despite their close friendship, Wynter was still a very private person - something he accepted and respected.  Saying anything to him at all had to be difficult for her.

“Thank you for telling me,” he replied.  Although one one worry was quickly replacing another, he was relieved that she’d decided to share this with him.  “Is there anything I can do to help?  Have you done any tests or research to try and figure out what might be happening?”  He offered the woman a soft, supportive grin.  “You’ve got me all to yourself for at least a month, so…”  Rhys held at his arms in an open gesture.  “I can do research for you.  Or if you think a reading might help narrow down the possible problem?”

    That would absolutely be an invasion of privacy. She didn’t work spells or charms on him without him knowing, and she’d very much like him to extend her the same courtesy. 

   Besides, he wouldn’t have to resort to that. Lord only knew what it might result in, but for better or worse, she’d decided that she was going to tell him. Oh, she’d gone back and forth on the matter, no doubt about it, weighed the pros and cons of both scenarios, but it really boiled down to one thing; He deserved to know. Keeping secrets from her friend wasn’t acceptable, because she knew that she wouldn’t want him keeping secrets from her if their roles were reversed.

   Wyn stepped up to the counter, careful not to accidentally step on any tails. Looked as if the whole gang had turned up whilst she was in the bathroom. Not that she was going to complain, of course, she absolutely adored Miss Lily’s cats and loved it when they came to visit.

   Noticing Rhys’ spaced-out expression, the young woman frowned a bit. “Hey…You okay?” she asked softly, gently pressing a hand to his shoulder.

Rhys jumped as Wynter’s voice and her hand on his shoulder pulled him back from the pit of worry he’d been allowing himself to sink into.  “Hmm… oh!  Yes, of course… just…”  His gaze fell on all of the cats.  Well, someone certainly didn’t think he was alright; she’d sent reinforcements.  Belatedly, he finished, “...thinking.”  He liked having her hand on his shoulder… it seemed to ground him.  Wynter was okay.  She was right here and she was okay.  And now that she’d agreed to having him here, he could actively work to make sure his friend stayed okay.

Boring?!  Alan couldn’t imagine such a thing.  “I’m… actually rather glad you’ve said that,” he confided.  “I don’t think I’d want things to be like on TV.  I simply want to see how  you do what you do.  And, well… I suppose to find out more about why you do it.”

He looked around the shop as Rhys gestured.  It was tidy rather than the cluttered style most new age shop keepers preferred, but still held that air of intrigue and mysticism that Alan found so fascinating.  “Not kitschy from what I can see,” he replied with honesty.  “You take yourself and your work seriously, and it shows.”  He listened as Rhys spoke of his preferred methods, nodding in thought, and trying not to go rigid at the mention of seances.  He didn’t do those often.  That was good.  That last thing Alan needed was…  Trying to suppress a shiver, the scientist moved closer to a case of crystals, admiring them.

A silence fell - not exactly uncomfortable or awkward - but Rhys quickly filled it.  “Mmm… that sounds like an excellent idea…”  he replied, turning away from the case to look at his host… right as the man began fumbling for a name… one Alan hadn’t offered.  “Oh!  Terrible sorry!  I promise I wasn’t testing you or anything.  I… I’m a little nervous and I completely forgot…!”  He stopped himself and laughed.  “And I’m sure you’d rather have a name than more of my babbling.  It’s Alan, Alan Campbell.”

Rhys relaxed as the other man spoke.  So he wasn’t expected to ‘perform’?  That was good news.  Although he’d agreed to help with this project, that was something he’d been more than a little worried about.   “That’s a terrible relief,” he admitted with a sheepish laugh.  “It’s good to hear we’re on the same page in that regard.”

Something in the man’s aura flickered at the mention of seances.  Rhys couldn't see it, but he could sense it.  Was it possible he knew about the entity that followed him?  Or suspected?  And was it fear, or anticipation that rippled through the other’s energies?  He couldn’t always tell the difference between certain kinds of emotions.

   She was getting far too good at lying for her own liking…

   It seemed that he bought it all, hook, line and sinker, and to be perfectly honest, she felt guilty for bullshitting him like that. Rhys was such a good friend and only wanted the best for her, so how did she repay him? With a bunch of lies and half-truths. But at the same time, she didn’t want to worry him with her bullshit. She’d been dealing with this for ages, and it wasn’t the first time it’d happened to her…

   Not that it was a valid reason for lying, but it did make things a little easier.

   “I-It’s all good, Rhys.” she promised, offering him a tired smile. “I won’t be long.”

   Oh man, tea sounded like heaven. “That’d be lovely…Nothing better t-to go with the carbs.” Wyn chuckled, stretching out as best as she could once she was up on her own two feet.

   She couldn’t help but smile as he mumbled and stuttered, the young woman watching him go with an amused expression coloring her features. God, he was too cute for his own good sometimes.

   Once she was alone, she let her facade drop a bit, that exhaustion overtaking her expression once more. Fuck…Maybe she should just tell him what was going on? She knew full well that he would continue to worry after her if she didn’t, so maybe telling him would help to settle that worry. Or it’d make it worse…

   She’d worry about it after she got cleaned up. On shaking legs, Wyn grabbed some fresh clothes and headed to the bathroom to get ready. Eventually, she joined him in the kitchen, still looking a bit worse for wear, but far better than she had the day before. 

   “Mmm…smells like caffeine.” she offered, making a b-line for the counter.

She seemed alright.  Rhys kept telling himself that as he headed back down the stairs.  Just because Lavinia had foreseen Wynter needing help in the shop didn’t necessarily mean anything.  The future was always wibbly-wobbly like that and often predictions weren’t obvious until after the fact.  So he tried not to worry as he set out their breakfast on a large plate and then prepped a kettle for tea.  

Granted, his own senses were humming, too… but Rhys usually needed ‘help’ when it came to predictions.  His cards… or maybe… he eyed the tea cups, and then shook the idea from his head.  No!  Wynter was his friend and he refused to do a reading on her without her permission.  It would be tempting to look in her cup after she finished her tea, but he would resist.  Rhys refused to risk their friendship by butting in where he wasn’t needed.

Alan shifted under the other man’s gaze.  He saw surprise there?  Probably due to his age.  But not disappointment or anger.  That was good.  Sometime age could be a terrible deterrent in his field.  But maybe Rhys understood that, being so young himself?  As the man stepped aside to invite him in, Alan offered a smile.  “Yes,” he replied, moving past the doorway.  “Thank you for agreeing to be a part of the study.  Dr. Scott was very excited when you accepted.  He’s heard lots of good things about you.  And I’m excited, as well.  Naturally.  I promise not to be overly intrusive…but if anything I do bothers you, please let me know so we can discuss things.”  Realizing that he was starting to babble ever so slightly, Alan trailed off and gave another smile…although it faltered when Rhys seemed to…to what?  He was reacting to something…or seemed to be.

And then Alan went completely still.  Oh…oh god!  Surely he didn’t sense…?!  But it had been so long ago!  Memories of his past suddenly threatened to consume him, and it was only with great effort that the young scientist managed to pull himself out of them.  “I…it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Rhys.”  Yes - act normal.  There was no reason to think the other man had seen anything…especially about…about that.  “I hope my being here won’t be too much of an inconvenience for you; although I do promise to be as unobtrusive as possible.”  Especially now that it seemed like revelations regarding his own past might be a genuine concern.  Silently, Alan berated himself for not thinking a powerful psychic might pick up on his…mistakes - no matter how long ago they were.   But it was too late to back out now…

“No inconvenience at all,” Rhys replied, smiling as he motioned the other man inside.  “Being asked was quite an honor.  I only hope you don’t find my work too boring.  The way I do things… well, it’s not like what you see in the TV shows; it’s really rather mundane.”

Moving further into the shop, he psychic gestured around him.  “I inherited this place from a friend when she decided she was more interested in traveling than running a business.  Things here are casual, and hopefully not too kitschy.  My main mode of reading is via tarot cards, but I’ll do other things, too, when requested.  Seances, for example - though I try to avoid them as much as possible.  They take a lot out of me…”

As he spoke, Rhys watched his guest curiously.  He had mostly decided that the energy was a separate thing… possibly an entity.  It seemed attached to the other man...but not in the simple way that strong emotions were.  Hmm… it seemed like, in addition to being observed, he was going to be observing, as well.  Maybe he could get Miss Lily to tell him more… give him her own impressions of the energy?

   It was probably for the best that he didn’t look too deeply into anything regarding her aura or anything else at the moment. Everything felt ragged and tattered, but that was how it always felt when her magic and those warding spells clashed. Eventually, she was either going to have to release all of the sigils and bonds, learn how to fully control all of the magic that welled beneath her skin, or she was going to have to find a more permanent solution to keep it under control.

   Of course, she was way too fucking tired to put much thought into either solution at that point. Something to worry about later, she supposed.

   Wynter moved to sit up a bit, running a hand through her dark tresses. Fuck, she hadn’t seen Rhys this worried in a long, long time. He really was concerned for her well being, wasn’t he? He’d really thought the worst…

   She should tell him the truth, and she knew that, but the last thing she wanted to do was give him even more reason to worry about her. “Mmm…more than l-likely.” she offer. “Kinda fell into bed last night…just slipped m’mind is all.” 

   Horse shit.

   The young woman offered Rhys a weak, tired smile. “I know…I know you would, but m’okay. I promise, Rhys, I’m fine.” she promised, though it was a lie.

   “Anyway…lemme get up and ready, and we’ll take care of things, yeah?”

   From the doorway, Toby studied the two. Oh, he was able to pick up on the necromancer’s lie, had known her long enough to learn her tell. Plus, he’d seen this before, he knew the signs…It worried him, sure, but it wasn’t the first time she’d dealt with these symptoms. Surely she’d beat them just like the times prior.

   So for the time being, he vanished, so did Sally, the two spirits disappearing to some other part of the building.

Rhys let Wynter’s words soothe his worries away (mostly.)  This was helped along by Agnes butting her ghostly head against his leg.  Alright then.  So… nothing to be concerned about.  He’d over-reacted… as he often did when his friends were involved.  With a small, slow bob of his head, the psychic replied, “Well… I’m glad you’re alright.  And I’m sorry for getting so worked up over nothing.”

At Wynter’s mention of needing to get ready, he flushed, standing quickly.  “Yes, of course.  Can’t do that with me sitting here, can you?”  His laugh was awkward and a little forced.  “Sorry… I’ll just… be downstairs.  Would you like me to put on water for tea?  And I brought breakfast.  Or… you know… carbs.  Terrible for breakfast, I suppose, but they taste good, so…”

   She couldn’t even defend herself this time. She had over done it, knew she had over done it and now…well, now he’d know it, too. Although she already had a feeling that he knew just how bad off she was. He might not have been able to prove it, but he’d certainly be able to now.

   The young woman was just so utterly worn out and she’d been ignoring the core reason for far too long.

   Her magic was trying to force its way to the surface, it was clashing with her wards, with the spells in place to keep herself from using to much of that power. It had happened before, and she knew that there was a chance of it happening again, but it was so much worse that it had been before.

   It wasn’t until Rhys was in her room, gently shaking her, that Wynter stirred. Pale eyes blinked weakly, wearily, before trying to focus on the man beside her. “R-Rhys?” she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep.

   “The h-hell time i-is it?” she asked.

   Thanks to all of the commotion, Toby had turned up. Sally, too, but she was hiding off on the sidelines. “T’e hell y’goin’ on abou’?” Toby asked, appearing in the doorway that led to Wyn’s bedroom. “Y’shakin ‘er fer a reason?”

   “s’agood question.” Wynter chimed in, looking between the spirit and her friend.

He was grateful when Wynter actually stirred, the vise of fear around his heart loosening ever so slightly.   But her aura...!  It felt... weak... and jittery?  Or jumbled?  Rhys didn’t really have a word for it.  Like she was at odds with another part of herself?  Was that possible?  It wasn’t a situation he’d ever encountered before... but then again, Wynter wasn’t like anyone he’d ever encountered before, either.  She was... special.

Toby’s question had the psychic immediately releasing his friend, a soft flush on his cheeks... a combination of embarrassment and adrenaline.  “I - I thought...”  He trailed off, suddenly confused with himself.  Had he let his own nerves get the better of him?  Surely nothing was too terribly wrong or the cats would've sought him out.  “I’m so sorry... when I arrived and everything was closed up... and you weren’t answering me...”  His hands moved to his lap and Rhys began to wring them slowly.  “I panicked,” he admitted with a small grimace.  “That is... all of this just has me terribly worried.  “But you... you just forgot to set your alarm?  Right?”

Faceless Fortune-Telling gifs in Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacts des Loups)